Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a scanner for scanning a light beam over an image carrier, an image forming unit for forming an image on the image carrier corresponding to the light beam scanned over the image carrier by the scanner and a movable supporting member for supporting an image forming medium and conveying the image forming medium to a position where the image on the image carrier is transferred to the image forming medium. The image forming apparatus further includes a first driver for driving the scanner, a second driver for driving the image carrier and the supporting member, a generator for generating a reference signal, a first controller for controlling the first driver to regulate the scanning speed of the scanner based on the reference signal generated by the generator and a second controller for controlling the second driver to regulate the moving speed of the image carrier and the supporting member based on the reference signal generated by the generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for scanning a light beam over an image carrier;   means for forming an image on the image carrier corresponding to the light beam scanned over the image carrier by the scanning means;   a movable supporting member for supporting an image forming medium and conveying the image forming medium to a position where the image on the image carrier is transferred to the image forming medium;   first driver means for driving the scanning means;   second driver means for driving the image carrier and the supporting member;   means for generating a reference signal;   first control means for controlling the first driver means to regulate the scanning speed of the scanning means based on the reference signal generated by the generating means; and   second control means for controlling the second driver means to regulate the moving speed of the image carrier and the supporting member based on the reference signal generated by the generating means.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for mechanically linking the image carrier and the supporting member to synchronize their movement. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanning means includes means for generating a light beam and a polygon mirror for deflecting the light beam from the light beam generating means onto the image carrier; and the first driver means includes a motor for rotating the polygon mirror.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forming means includes a plurality of developing means each having a color developing agent to form a plurality of image on the image carrier. 
     
     
       5. An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for scanning a light beam over an image carrier;   means for forming an image on the image carrier corresponding to the light beam scanned over the image carrier by the scanning means;   a movable supporting member for supporting an image forming medium and conveying the image forming medium to a position where the image on the image carrier is transferred to the image forming medium;   first driver means for driving the scanning means;   second driver means for driving the image carrier and the supporting member;   means for generating a reference signal;   first control means for controlling the first driver means to regulate the scanning speed of the scanning means based on the reference signal generated by the generating means;   second control means for controlling the second driver means to regulate the moving speed of the image carrier and the supporting member based on the reference signal generated by the generating means;   means for counting the number of scans of the light beam over the image carrier; and   third control means for controlling the timing of the image forming by the image forming means in response to the count of the counting means.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for mechanically linking the image carrier and the supporting member to synchronize their movement. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the scanning means includes means for generating a light beam and a polygon mirror for deflecting the light beam from the light beam generating means onto the image carrier; the first driver means includes a motor for rotating the polygon mirror.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the forming means includes a plurality of developing means each having a color developing agent to form a plurality of image on the image carrier. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the counting means includes: means for detecting the scanning beam position and outputting a detection signal; and   means for binarising the detection signal received from the detecting means to output a horizontal synchronization signal to be counted.   
     
     
       10. An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for scanning a light beam over an image carrier;   means for forming an image on the image carrier corresponding to the light beam scanned over the image carrier by the scanning means;   a movable supporting member for supporting an image forming medium and conveying the image forming medium to a position where the image on the image carrier is transferred to the image forming medium;   first driver means for driving the scanning means;   second driver means for driving the image carrier and the supporting member;   first generator means for generating a reference signal;   first control means for controlling the first driver means to regulate the scanning speed of the scanning means based on the reference signal generated by the first generator means;   second control means for controlling the second driver means to regulate the moving speed of the image carrier and the supporting member based on the reference signal generated by the first generator means;   second generator means for generating a specified pulse signals in response to the driving of the image carrier and the supporting member by the second driver means;   means for counting the pulse signals generated by the second generator means; and   third control means for controlling the timing of the image forming by the image forming means in response to the count of the counting means.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for mechanically linking the image carrier and the supporting member to synchronize their movement. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second driver means includes a first motor for rotating one of the image carrier and the supporting member. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the scanning means includes means for generating a light beam and a polygon mirror for deflecting the light beam from the light beam generating means onto the image carrier; and the first driver means includes a second motor for rotating the polygon mirror.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the forming means includes a plurality of developing means each having a color developing agent to form a plurality of image on the image carrier. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second generator means includes an encoder incorporated with the first motor.